Chapter 3: Mystification of an Unknown Man

He suddenly came one day, claiming that the forest near the orphanage is inhabited by orcs, demons, and bandits. Learning about that, those beings perhaps caused the death of Granger's parents.

"My name is Alucard, a demon hunter. It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance," he introduced himself as he gave a short bow.

"Doesn't he look young, Granger? He looks like he's just a few years older than me," I whispered in your ear as you kept looking at the blonde man. We hid between the trees behind the bushes, that bordered the gardens and the pathway, near the orphanage's gate as we eavesdropped at their conversation.

We followed Clint when we heard that there was a mysterious man waiting at our gates. With my curiosity, we ended up in our predicament. A predicament that could end us in a bad situation if caught.

"Aren't you just a teenager? You don't look that old to me as what your body size tells me," Clint deadpanned at him.

"I'm actually just fifteen, but age does not tell what talents or skills you have. Don't you think?" Alucard replied, a manly smirk appearing on his defined face.

Blue eyes left from Clint's eyes, as his eyes darted around, his eyes ending up in the bush we're hiding to. Startled, I began to fret.

"Hey, I think we should leave," I patted your shoulder and started crawling back into the gardens. You didn't left your spot as I gazed at your unmoving silhouette. My heart's cries of anxiety didn't escape from my ears as thoughts of them noticing our presence came- on what would they do to us. Will they scold us? Look at us in disgust?

"…un," you replied shortly. I almost hadn't caught what you said due to the combination of my heart thumping and mosquitoes buzzing in my ears annoyingly.

At that time I hadn't notice how your eyes twinkled in interest and how you hesitated replying onto my inquiries as you were busy thinking of how you would talk to him.

Slowly approaching me, you hadn't noticed a small branch beneath you as your eyes were fixated on the blonde man before you. Creating a short but noticeable crunch, the tension between the two men broke as their attention went to the disturbance.

Quickly, I turned back and my lips connected to your ears. "Go and leave Granger, I'll distract them," I whispered to you with a smile appearing on my face, drenched with sweat.

Then obediently, you left without looking back. 'So that's it…shame,' I thought remorsefully. Fear coating my heart, I stood up to reveal myself to the men.

"Hmph," Alucard proudly smirked as he folded his arms. As if he knew we were there…

"Clint! So I've been looking for you, though it seems like you're quite busy with a guest? I guess I should leave~?" I stood still behind the bushes as Alucard's eyes penetrated through me.

"Claude?! The he-"

"A brother of your's?" the blue-eyed intruder inquired.

"N-not really," Clint sighed as he stared at me eye-to-eye. Frowning, he ruffled his own dirty blonde hair- he wanted me to leave.

At least he believed me…

"Then I'm off to go-" I was cut off by that man, again, as I was about to glare at him. Was that a hobby of his?

"I think that it would be wise if I would introduce myself to you too, no?" he looked straight into my eyes as I did vice versa. But whatever I saw made me unable to look away; his eyes were of void and miser. I was left speechless as I realized that there was a reason of his insatiable demeanor to the likes of us- those who know of nothing.

He must've lost things of his own too, like how you, Granger, had lost your own.

"Alucard's the name, a pleasure to be of your acquaintance," his sudden introduction woke me from the enchantment his eyes game me.

"Claude's mine," I forced a smile to mine.

He chuckled, an ominous aura coming off him as it brought chills to me. As I took a step back, a gasp escaped from what I've stepped on.

"Granger…" an airy mumble came from my mouth. Wiping your own sweat you stood up and appeared before them as well.

"Uhh…I'm Granger! N-nice to see you mister," you anxiously laughed after your introduction.

"Well that's a nice way to sneak out and peek at us, Granger, is it?" Alucard grinned at you whilst you became flustered.

The event became a mere fragment of the past as the night came and the eerie man left. "I like him," you muttered under your breath.

"What?" I was disheveled from what happened prior. Alucard's blue eyes haunted me till he left.

"I like him! I mean I want to be like him too," you dreamed.

"W-what? Didn't you want to protect those around you than hurt them?" I became more dishelved in confusion and disbelief. Pinching the bridge between my eyes, I closed my eyes and wondered: How could a man just simply sweep you away?

Between us in our shared room, I felt that we were slowly growing apart, despite being in a room together. Whatever you said passed through my ears as I wasn't able to comprehend what you had said. Nothing made sense to me.

"So you also want to be…a killer? An avenger?" I whispered blankly as it never entered through your ears.

The lighted candles flickered as I gazed upon it- reflecting my erratic heart and mind, confused and maddened in desolation.

I, I regret bringing you there…no, I wished that we never met him for he was the one who stole you from me. He was an intruder.

Fear and envy clouded me- alas, I was the one who planted the seeds of despair and wrath.